Charles h



G. H. SMITH.

SNAP HOOK.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 20, I891.

'rzns cu., mom-mud, WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CHARLES H. SMITH, OF NEXV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AS SIGNOR TO 0. B. NORTH &COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,646, dated October20, 1891. Application filed May 25, 1891. Serial No. 393,954. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1. CHARLES H. SMITH, of New Haven, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inSnap-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken inconnection with accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in

Figure l, a side view of the hook complete; Fig. 2, a top view of thesame; Fig. 3, a longitudinal central section showing side view of thebolt and spring; Fig. 4-. a transverse section on line 00 w of Fig. 1,looking toward the loop; Fig. 5, an under side View of the hook; Figs.6, 7, and 8, views illustrating the manner of assembling the parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of thatclass of snap-hooks in which the body is of tubular form, having thehook at one end and loop or other device at the opposite end, as aconvenience for attachin g the hook to the strap. The tubular bodystands in line with the point of the hook, and in the tubular body abolt is arranged with a spring, the tendency of which is to force thenose of the bolt toward the nose of the hook and so as to close theopening into the hook, the body being constructed with a longitudinalslot through which a thumbpiece' on the bolt projects as a convenientmeans for operating the bolt, the object of the invention being aconstruction which will permit the tubular body to be formed, so thatlittle or no mechanical work other than that of the mere assembling ofthe parts is required in the manufacture of the hook; and the inventionconsists in the construction, as hereinafter described and particularlyrecited in the claim.

A represents the body of the hook, terminating at one end in a hook B,and at the other end in a loop, swivel, or other known device, hererepresented as a loop 0, and by which the hook may be attached to thestrap or to whatever it may be desired. Upon the body is a cap D, thedivision between the body and the cap being longitudinal and in ahorizontal plane, as seen in Fig. 4. In both the body and the cap alongitudinal recess is made upon their adjacent faces to formthe boltand spring-chamber E, (see Fig. 3,) thus making the body complete oftubular shape, as usual in this class of snap-hooks. The cap isconstructed with a longitudinal slot F at its forward end, such asusually provided in this class of hooks. \Vithin the body the bolt G isarranged, having a thumb-piece H, which extends through theslot F,and bywhich the boltmay be drawn backward, and in rear of the bolt a spring Iis arranged, the tendency of which is to force the bolt toward the noseof the hook and so as to close the opening into.

the hook, as usual in this class of snaps. a

As a means for securing the cap to the body, it is constructed at itsforward end with a loop J, adapted to embrace the body of the hook atthat point, and so as to fit snugly thereon. The loop is cast as a partof the cap, and the cap is applied to the body by first introducing thenose of the hook through the loop J of the cap in a reverse position, asseen in Fig. 6, the hook entering the cap, and the cap passed aroundbelow the body of the hook, as seen in Fig. 8, and then the body isturned upward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, bringing the cap againabove the body of the hook and the loop below. Then the loop is drawnback onto the body and cap, the loop passing rearward, as seen in Fig.7. In this position the spring and bolt are introduced and brought toplace, as seen in Fig. 3. The cap is then moved forward, the slot Fpassing onto the thumb-piece H of the bolt, and the loop J to itsbearing upon the under side of the hook, so as to secure the forward endof the cap firmly to the body. At the rear end the cap is secured by arivet K, which is preferably made as a part of the cap, and extendingthrough a corresponding hole in the body is riveted down thereon, asclearly seen in Fig. 3. This completes the hook. The cap is readilymolded and cast complete, as is the body with the loop and hook at itsrespective ends, and the rivethole may be formed in the process ofcasting thebody and the rivet cast as a part of the cap. The bolt isalso cast complete. These parts may therefore be completely finished inthe tumbling-barrel andwith substantially no mechanical labor requiredother than that of assembling the parts and the simple operation ofriveting, and when the parts are assembled and secured together thetubular body-of the hook is substantially as strong and firm as if castcomplete.

'I claim- A snap-hook consisting of a body terminating at one end in ahook and at the other end with means for attachment, combined with a capcovering the body, the cap and body recessed to form a longitudinal boltand springchamber opening toward the nose of the hook, the divisionbetween the cap and body being in substantially a longitudinal centralplane, the cap at its forward end constructed with a loop adapted tosurround the body at that end of the cap, and the cap secured to thebody at its rear end, a spring and bolt Within the tubular body, the capconstructed with a. longitudinal slot, and a bolt constructed with athumb-piece projecting through said longitudinal slot, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

LUoIUs H. PRINDLE, GEo. N. SHINER.

